And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. There is a chilling brevity to Mark’s description of Jesus’ crucifixion. Four words in English, “and they...

Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). We don’t know much about Golgotha with any certainty. It’s referenced in all four gospels, presumed to be a hill just outside the city gates, probably close enough to a major road that passers-by could...

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Christian tradition reports that Simon of Cyrene, the passer-by pressed into service by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross, later became a Christian....

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of...

Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Do you ever wonder just how much of our lives is dictated by...

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” One may well wonder while reading this portion of...